Utilizing the Lake Superior watershed and the St. Louis River as a foundation for learning
This is a copy of one of the first hand drawn maps of the St. Louis River Estuary. It was drawn by Admiral Henry Bayfield in 1824. Pay close attention to the inscription on the map. Curriculum download is a PDF version of the map.
A wonderfully crafted scavenger hunt for a no-fail outdoor experience with your students. The curriculum download is a PDF version of the scavenger hunt.
Students will investigate a variety of resources to formulate a hypothesis regarding how Rusty Crayfish arrived in the St. Louis River. The curriculum download is a ZIP file containing all the PDF documents needed to run this lesson with a learners of a variety of ages.
In this lesson, students do a field study on the great variety of seeds on their school grounds. They use the "wool sock" collection method, hand lenses, and microscopes. The main line of inquiry is "How are seeds dispersed?", but opportunities abound for lesson extension. The curriculum download is a PDF that includes the lesson plan and student data collection sheet. The supporting file is a PDF document about seed dispersal from Cornell University.
Continue the classroom discussions about Phenology and the Lake Superior Watershed with these questions relating to Winter. The curriculum download is a PDF with a variety of seasonally relevant images and questions.
In this newly updated lesson, students will learn about the differences between saltwater and freshwater, where they are found, what water is in Lake Superior and the animals of both types of water. The curriculum download is a PDF containing the lesson plan, procedures, and student materials.
In this newly updated lesson, students will discover the insulating effect of snow and understand that temperature varies according to snow depth. Students will also learn what the subnivean zone is and how it helps animals survive the winter. the curriculum download is a PDF including the lesson plan and student data collection sheet.
This is a one-pager, student sheet with quality images of cedar, balsam fir, red pine, spruce, and white pine needles for field identification and extension activities. Have students make a display by gathering specimens, researching, or for smaller students, simply writing the names of the trees by the correct images. Regardless, GO OUTSIDE with your students and collect some samples of these trees for your classroom. Tell the Ojibwe oral story that explains this phenomenon. The curriculum download is a PDF version of the student sheet.
Students will use the cards to assist them in using words to describe what they see, feel, and smell outside. This will help guide them when they write a descriptive paper. The curriculum download is a PDF including the lesson plan and student writing sheet. The supporting file is a PDF that is a variation of this lesson for younger learners.